Stringing kit for stringing a decorative jewellery element, casing for use in the stringing kit and method of stringing a decorative jewellery element

ABSTRACT

The stringing kit is used for stringing a decorative jewellery element and comprises a casing that in turn has a main body and sockets in its main body. A number of pins can be releasably installed in the casing by nesting them in the sockets. At least one string can be interlaced through the pins. Pin retaining members provided in the casing main body releasably retain the pins in the sockets.

CROSS-REFERENCE DATA

The present application claims Paris convention priority based upon U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/883,394 filed Sep. 27, 2013.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the stringing of jewellery elements, and more particularly to a kit, including a casing, and a method for stringing a decorative jewellery element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many decorative jewellery elements such as bracelets and necklaces are home-made, for example the so-called “friendship bracelets”. The latter are usually made by manually stringing flexible fabric strings between thin transverse supports such as metallic or plastic pins. The result is a bracelet made of a number of tightly interlaced strings, usually of different colors, with the pins being only visible in the thickness of the bracelet. Only the woven fabric strings will be apparent on the main, flat peripheral surface of the bracelet.

However, manually stringing the bracelet is a challenge and a tool to facilitate this operation is certainly desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a casing for stringing a decorative jewellery element, comprising:

-   -   a main body;     -   sockets in said main body for releasably holding pins through         which at least one string can be interlaced; and     -   pin retaining members for releasably retaining the pins in the         sockets.

The present invention further relates to a stringing kit for stringing a decorative jewellery element, comprising:

-   -   a casing comprising:         -   a main body; and         -   sockets in said main body;     -   a number of pins capable of being releasably installed in said         casing by nesting in said sockets;     -   at least one string capable of being interlaced through said         pins; and     -   pin retaining members in said casing main body that releasably         retain the pins in the sockets.

In one embodiment, said casing main body comprises first and second casing parts that are releasably attachable to each other, with said pin retaining members comprising indentations made in at least one of said first and second casing parts, said indentations forming said sockets between said first and second casing parts when said first and second casing parts are attached to each other for receiving the pins therein.

In one embodiment, each said first and second casing parts comprises indentations that register with indentations of the other said first and second casing parts to form said sockets.

In one embodiment, said first and second casing parts have respective slots formed therein that register with each other, with said sockets being oriented towards said slots for allowing said pins to extend through said slots.

In one embodiment, said first and second casing parts are attachable through a snap-fit engagement.

In one embodiment, said pins each comprise a central stringing portion and end portions, said end portions being nested in said sockets when said pins are carried by said casing and said central stringing portion then being engageable by said string.

In one embodiment, said central stringing portion of each said pin is a cylindrical shaft and said end portions of each said pin are diametrically larger head portions.

The invention also relates to a method of stringing a decorative jewellery element with a stringing kit comprising:

-   -   a casing comprising:         -   a main body; and         -   sockets in said main body;     -   a number of pins;     -   at least one string; and     -   pin retaining members in said casing main body; said method         comprising:     -   releasably installing said number of pins in said casing sockets         such that a stringing portion of said pins is accessible         outwardly of said casing;     -   stringing at least one string along said stringing portion of         said pins until the decorative jewellery element is formed by         said at least one string and said pins; and     -   removing said decorative jewellery element from said casing.

In one embodiment, said casing main body comprises first and second casing parts and said pin retaining members comprise indentations made in at least one of said first and second casing parts, with the step of releasably installing said number of pins in said sockets comprising:

-   -   detaching said first and second casing parts from each other;     -   installing said pins between said first and second casing parts;         and     -   attaching said first and second casing parts to each other such         that said pins become nested in said indentations that form said         sockets.

In one embodiment, each said first and second casing parts comprises indentations that register with indentations of the other said first and second casing parts to form said sockets.

In one embodiment, said first and second casing parts have respective slots formed therein that register with each other, with said sockets being oriented towards said slots, the step of installing said pins between said first and second casing parts comprising allowing a stringing portion of said pins to extend through said slots, and the step of stringing at least one string along said stringing portion of said pins until the decorative jewellery element is formed by said at least one string and said pins comprising interlacing said string in-between said stringing portion of said pins within said slots of said casing parts.

In one embodiment, the step of attaching said first and second casing parts to each other is accomplished through a snap-fit engagement of said first and second casing parts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the casing of the stringing kit according to the present invention in its disassembled condition, further showing one transverse pin before it is installed in one casing part;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but shows a number of transverse pins installed in one of the casing parts;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but shows the casing in its assembled condition;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but shows strings being interlaced through the transverse pins;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the stringing kit of the present invention, with the casing being shown in its disassembled condition and with a decorative jewellery element having been made and resting in one of the casing parts before it is retrieved; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a decorative jewellery element made with the stringing kit according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

According to the present invention, there is provided a stringing kit for stringing a decorative jewellery element. The decorative jewellery element can be a necklace or bracelet, for example. The stringing kit comprises a casing that is used to releasably hold a number of pins, and strings that will be interlaced through the pins while they are held by the casing, for stringing the jewellery element. By using a casing such as the one described in the present specification, the confection of the jewellery element is enabled and facilitated such that it becomes much quicker and easier to string a jewellery element; and the result is a jewellery element of better appearance.

The kit of the present invention generally comprises a casing that has a main body and sockets in the main body. A number of pins capable of being releasably installed in the casing by nesting in the sockets are further provided. At least one string, and more probably a number of strings, can be interlaced through the pins to form the jewellery element, while the pins are being held by the casing within the sockets. To hold the pins, pin retaining members in the casing main body are provided. The pin retaining members could have different shapes and configurations, and in a preferred embodiment they comprise indentations that form the sockets in such a shape as to releasably retain the pins in the casing.

The invention further provides that the casing main body comprises first and second casing parts that are releasably attachable to each other, with the indentations made in at least one of the first and second casing parts, although preferably they are provided in both the first and second casing parts to form the sockets.

The first and second casing parts have respective slots formed therein that register with each other, with the sockets being oriented towards the slots for allowing the pins to extend through the slots.

Accordingly, the method of stringing a decorative jewellery element with a stringing kit of the present invention comprises releasably installing the pins in the casing sockets such that a stringing portion of the pins is accessible outwardly of the casing. Then, at least one string is strung along the stringing portion of the pins until the decorative jewellery element is formed by the at least one string and the pins. It is understood that, in practice, it is probable that more than one string will be strung along the pins, such as strings of different colors allowing different decorative results to be obtained. Finally, once the stringing is completed, the decorative jewellery element is removed from the casing.

The step of releasably installing the number of pins in the sockets comprises detaching the first and second casing parts from each other, installing the pins between the first and second casing parts, and attaching the first and second casing parts to each other such that the pins become nested in the indentations that form the sockets.

Still according to the method of the present invention, the step of installing the pins between the first and second casing parts comprising allowing a stringing portion of the pins to extend through the slots of the casing parts which allows access to the string portion of the pins only. The step of stringing at least one string along the stringing portion of the pins until the decorative jewellery element is formed by the at least one string and the pins consequently comprises interlacing the string in-between the stringing portion of the pins within the slots of the casing parts.

FIGS. 1-5 show one way to carry out the present invention more particularly. FIGS. 1-5 show a stringing kit 10 for stringing decorative jewellery elements 12 such as bracelets and necklaces. The decorative jewellery element 12 is made using one or more flexible fabric strings 14 that are strung through a number of transverse pins 16 as detailed hereinafter. FIG. 6 shows one such decorative jewellery element 12 having been made with stringing kit 10.

Stringing kit 10 comprises an elongated casing 18 that defines a main body having first and second generally flat casing parts 20, 22 that are almost mirror images of one another. Each casing part 20, 22 comprises a generally smooth outer surface 20 a, 22 a and an inner surface 20 b, 22 b that faces the inner surface of the opposing casing part. Casing parts 20, 22 can releasably interlock in a snap-fit engagement by means of complementary resiliently interlocking pegs 24 and sockets 26 moulded into casing parts 20, 22 in facing register on inner surfaces 20 b, 22 b. Pegs 24 and sockets 26 are only visible on second casing part 22 in the drawings but each peg 24 of second casing part 22 faces a corresponding socket (concealed in the drawings) in first casing part 20, and each socket 26 of second casing part 22 faces a corresponding peg (concealed in the drawings) in first casing part 20.

Consequently, casing 18 may adopt a disassembled condition shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 wherein casing parts 20, 22 are detached and separated from one another, and an assembled condition shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 wherein casing parts 20, 22 are attached to each other. It is possible to manually force casing parts 20, 22 against each other into their assembled condition, and to manually force them apart into their disassembled condition, in each case against the resiliency of the peg and socket attachments 24, 26.

Other attachment means could be envisioned to releasably attach casing parts 20, 22 to one another including clips, set screws, bolts, or any other suitable attachment means.

In its assembled condition, casing 18 defines a central slot 28 that extends longitudinally between opposite ends 18 a, 18 b of elongated casing 18. Slot 28 is formed by registering slots 30, 32 made respectively in the first and second casing parts 20, 22.

A number of indentations 34, 36 are made respectively on the first and second casing parts 20, 22 and more particularly on their inner surfaces 20 a, 22 a along the elongated longitudinal edges 30 a, 30 b, 32 a, 32 b formed by slots 30, 32. Indentations 34, 36 have a hemi-cylindrical shape and indentations 34 are axially aligned by pairs with one indentation 34 on either side of slot 30; while indentations 36 are axially aligned by pairs also, with one indentation 36 on either side of slot 32. When casing 18 is in its assembled state, each indentation 34 of first casing part 20 forms a cylindrical socket with a corresponding indentation 36 of second casing part 22.

Socket ribs 38 located on the inner surfaces 20 a, 22 a of first and second casing parts 20, 22 (but only visible on first casing part 20 in the drawings) extend along the sleeves formed by indentations 34, 36 to block their extremity opposite slot 18.

Reinforcement ribs 40 located on the inner surfaces 20 a, 22 a of first and second casing parts 20, 22 (but only visible on first casing part 20 in the drawings) extend transversely away from socket ribs 38 towards side walls of casing first and second parts 20, 22 to reinforce first and second casing parts 20, 22.

First and second openings 42, 44 are made on casing 18 near its first and second ends 18 a, 18 b by registering openings 46, 48 and 50, 52 respectively made in first and second casing parts 20, 22.

Stringing kit 10 further comprises a number of pins 16 that each comprises a central stringing portion that comprises a cylindrical shaft 54 and a pair of end portions that comprise cylindrically larger head portions 56.

Stringing kit 10 finally comprises one or more flexible strings 14.

In use, to string a jewellery element such as a bracelet or a necklace 12, casing parts 20, 22 are first separated by forcing them into the disassembled condition of casing 18 as shown in FIG. 1. Pins 16 are then installed in either one of first or second casing parts 20, 22, for example in second casing part 22 as shown in FIG. 2. More particularly, pin head portions 56 are sized to nest in indentations 36 and pin shafts 54 then extend through slot 32. First casing part 20 is thereafter snap-fitted against second casing part as shown in FIG. 3, thereby entrapping pins 16 within casing 18 while allowing access to all pin shafts 54 through casing slot 28. Indeed, pin head portions 56 snugly fit in the sockets formed by indentations 34 and 36 when casing 18 is in its assembled condition as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and socket ribs 38 prevent pins 16 from sliding interiorly through indentations 34, 36.

One or more strings 14 may then be tightly interlaced between pin shafts 54 by inserting each string 14 first downwardly through a first space between two successive pin shafts 54, then upwardly through the next available space between pin shafts 54, then downwardly between the next available space between pin shafts 54, and so on until the string 14 has been interlaced through all spaces between pin shafts 54 thereby forming a first string row. As shown in FIG. 4, this may be facilitated with a tool such as a conventional sewing needle 58, or alternately it could be done by directly inserting the leading end of string 14 between pin shafts 54. Either with the same or a new string 14, this procedure is repeated until a number of side-by-side rows of strings are strung along the pin shafts 54, as shown in FIG. 5. FIGS. 5 and 6 also show that the portions of strings 14 that are not interlaced through pins 16 may be braided at jewellery extremities 60, 62. Once the stringing operation is complete, the first and second casing parts 20, 22 may be forced apart to disassemble casing 18 as shown in FIG. 5. The jewellery element 12 may then be removed from casing parts 20, 22 as shown in FIG. 6. Additional finishing elements, including beads or other such decorative or attachment elements, may be used to further decorate jewellery element 12 and/or to attach the free ends of strings 14.

With strings 14 being tightly interlaced on the pin shafts 54, the diametrically larger pin head portions 56 help prevent the pins 16 from laterally sliding out of their engagement between the strings 14.

It is understood that pins 16 could have other shapes or configurations than that shown in the drawings, including for example being cross-sectionally rectangular instead of circular. Furthermore, other means to prevent the pins from disengaging from the strings in the strung jewellery element could also be envisioned, instead of the diametrically larger head portions 56.

The stringing system 10 of the present invention consequently comprises a convenient stringing tool in the form of the casing 18 that, coupled with the use of the correspondingly sized pins 16 and of strings 14, facilitates the stringing operation for making decorative jewellery elements such as a bracelet or necklace. The casing is easy to open into its disassembled condition and close into its assembled condition by a simple releasable snap-fit interlock. 

I claim:
 1. A casing for stringing a decorative jewellery element, comprising: a main body; sockets in said main body for releasably holding pins through which at least one string can be interlaced; and pin retaining members for releasably retaining the pins in the sockets.
 2. A casing as defined in claim 1, wherein said casing main body comprises first and second casing parts that are releasably attachable to each other, with said pin retaining members comprising indentations made in at least one of said first and second casing parts, said indentations forming said sockets in-between said first and second casing parts when said first and second casing parts are attached to each other for receiving the pins therein.
 3. A casing as defined in claim 2, wherein each said first and second casing parts comprises indentations that register with indentations of the other said first and second casing parts to form said sockets.
 4. A casing as defined in claim 2, wherein said first and second casing parts have respective slots formed therein that register with each other, with said sockets being oriented towards said slots for allowing said pins to extend through said slots.
 5. A casing as defined in claim 2, wherein said first and second casing parts are attachable through a snap-fit engagement.
 6. A stringing kit for stringing a decorative jewellery element, comprising: a casing comprising: a main body; and sockets in said main body; a number of pins capable of being releasably installed in said casing by nesting in said sockets; at least one string capable of being interlaced through said pins; and pin retaining members in said casing main body that releasably retain the pins in the sockets.
 7. A stringing kit as defined in claim 6, wherein said casing main body comprises first and second casing parts that are releasably attachable to each other, with said pin retaining members comprising indentations made in at least one of said first and second casing parts, said indentations forming said sockets between said first and second casing parts when said first and second casing parts are attached to each other for receiving the pins therein.
 8. A stringing kit as defined in claim 7, wherein each said first and second casing parts comprises indentations that register with indentations of the other said first and second casing parts to form said sockets.
 9. A stringing kit as defined in claim 7, wherein said first and second casing parts have respective slots formed therein that register with each other, with said sockets being oriented towards said slots for allowing said pins to extend through said slots.
 10. A stringing kit as defined in claim 7, wherein said first and second casing parts are attachable through a snap-fit engagement.
 11. A stringing kit as defined in claim 9, wherein said pins each comprise a central stringing portion and end portions, said end portions being nested in said sockets when said pins are carried by said casing and said central stringing portion then being engageable by said string.
 12. A stringing kit as defined in claim 11, wherein said central stringing portion of each said pin is a cylindrical shaft and said end portions of each said pin are diametrically larger head portions.
 13. A method of stringing a decorative jewellery element with a stringing kit comprising: a casing comprising: a main body; and sockets in said main body; a number of pins; at least one string; and pin retaining members in said casing main body; said method comprising: releasably installing said number of pins in said casing sockets such that a stringing portion of said pins is accessible outwardly of said casing; stringing at least one string along said stringing portion of said pins until the decorative jewellery element is formed by said at least one string and said pins; and removing said decorative jewellery element from said casing.
 14. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein said casing main body comprises first and second casing parts and said pin retaining members comprise indentations made in at least one of said first and second casing parts, with the step of releasably installing said number of pins in said sockets comprising: detaching said first and second casing parts from each other; installing said pins between said first and second casing parts; and attaching said first and second casing parts to each other such that said pins become nested in said indentations that form said sockets.
 15. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein each said first and second casing parts comprises indentations that register with indentations of the other said first and second casing parts to form said sockets.
 16. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein said first and second casing parts have respective slots formed therein that register with each other, with said sockets being oriented towards said slots, the step of installing said pins between said first and second casing parts comprising allowing a stringing portion of said pins to extend through said slots, and the step of stringing at least one string along said stringing portion of said pins until the decorative jewellery element is formed by said at least one string and said pins comprising interlacing said string in-between said stringing portion of said pins within said slots of said casing parts.
 17. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the step of attaching said first and second casing parts to each other is accomplished through a snap-fit engagement of said first and second casing parts. 